Welcome to Plutus Academy’s Daily Current Affairs — 4 July 2026. Today’s update covers the most important national and international developments, banking and finance news, sports events, key appointments, resignations, and science breakthroughs, curated from credible newspapers, news agencies and government sources (PIB, RBI, The Hindu, PTI, Reuters, NASA, World Bank) for Bank PO, SSC, RRB and UPSC aspirants.

🇮🇳 National News

Amarnath Yatra 2026 Commences from Jammu & Kashmir

The annual Amarnath Yatra 2026 commenced on 3 July, with the first batch of pilgrims proceeding to the holy cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas via the Pahalgam (Anantnag) and Baltal (Ganderbal) routes. The Prime Minister extended greetings to devotees of Lord Shiva on the commencement of the sacred yatra.

Jaipur Declaration on e-Governance 2026 Adopted at 29th NCeG

The 29th National Conference on e-Governance (NCeG) concluded in Jaipur, Rajasthan, with the adoption of the Jaipur Declaration on e-Governance 2026, reflecting the collective resolve of the Centre and States to accelerate digital transformation and build an efficient, secure and future-ready governance ecosystem.

EPF Scheme, 2026 Notified — Replaces EPF Scheme, 1952

The Ministry of Labour and Employment has notified the Employees’ Provident Funds (EPF) Scheme, 2026, replacing the seven-decade-old EPF Scheme, 1952, as part of the implementation of the Code on Social Security, 2020.

PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana Completes Over 10 Years

The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in July 2015 with an outlay of ₹50,000 crore, has completed more than a decade of advancing irrigation-led agricultural transformation under the motto “Har Khet Ko Pani”.

GAGAN-Based PinS Approach Procedure Approved for Helicopters

India approved the Point-in-Space (PinS) Instrument Approach Procedure based on Satellite-Guided Performance-Based Navigation using India’s GAGAN system, enabling helicopters to make safe, accurate approaches to heliports without dependence on ground-based radar or ILS infrastructure — a boost for regional and emergency air connectivity.

🌍 International News

Russia Intensifies Airstrikes on Kyiv; Ukraine Seeks Patriot Production Rights

Russia carried out deadly airstrikes on Kyiv, signalling intensified pressure on Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked the United States for permission for Ukraine to manufacture Patriot air-defence missiles domestically to counter the escalating attacks.

Venezuela Earthquake: Toll Rises to About 2,300

Venezuela confirmed roughly 2,300 deaths and more than 11,000 injured in the devastating earthquake, with nearly 50,000 people still unaccounted for. In a remarkable rescue, a 43-year-old man was pulled out alive after international crews tunnelled for about 100 hours to reach him.

Iran Begins Funeral Ceremonies for Slain Supreme Leader

Iran commenced days-long funeral ceremonies for slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with authorities expecting massive public gatherings in Tehran. Diplomatic negotiations with the United States remain paused during the mourning period.

Colorado Wildfires Burn Nearly 130,000 Acres in the US

Six major wildfires are burning across Colorado (USA), charring nearly 130,000 acres and forcing thousands to evacuate. The largest, the Aspen Acres Fire, remained at zero-per-cent containment.

🏦 News Related to Indian Banking and Finance

RBI to Infuse ₹3 Trillion Liquidity via OMOs and Forex Swaps

The Reserve Bank of India announced measures to ease tight liquidity conditions in the banking system, planning to inject nearly ₹3 trillion through open market operations (OMOs) and foreign-exchange swaps, supporting credit growth and orderly money-market conditions.

Bond Yields Rise as RBI Excludes Liquid Papers from Debt Purchase

Indian government bonds slipped after the RBI’s list of securities for next week’s open market purchase excluded the most liquid papers, pushing yields marginally higher, Reuters reported on 3 July.

New EPF Scheme 2026 to Streamline Provident Fund Administration

The newly notified EPF Scheme, 2026 modernises provident fund administration under the Code on Social Security, 2020 — significant for banking-sector payroll, compliance and retirement savings management.

💱 News Related to International Banking and Finance

World Bank: Global Growth to Slow to 2.5% in 2026

According to the World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects, global growth is projected to slow to 2.5 per cent in 2026, with emerging market and developing economies facing their weakest per-capita income growth since the pandemic. South Asia remains the fastest-growing region, while the Middle East conflict has triggered sharp energy price increases and renewed inflation pressure.

IMF SDR Interest Rate at 2.811%

The IMF set the SDR interest rate at 2.811% (as on 2 July 2026), with 1 US Dollar equal to SDR 0.7366 — a key benchmark for member-country borrowing costs.

🏆 International Sports Events

FIFA World Cup 2026 (Round of 32): Portugal, Argentina, Egypt, Switzerland Advance

In Round-of-32 matches played on 3 July, Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in Toronto, Argentina edged Cape Verde 3-2 in Miami, Switzerland defeated Algeria 2-0 in Vancouver, and Egypt knocked out Australia 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw — Egypt’s first-ever World Cup knockout win. Quarterfinals are scheduled for 9–11 July.

Wimbledon 2026: Defending Champion Jannik Sinner Enters Round Four

Defending champion Jannik Sinner beat Jenson Brooksby 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 to march into the last 16 of the Gentlemen’s Singles. India’s Yuki Bhambri and partner Michael Venus crashed out of the Gentlemen’s Doubles first round, losing 3-6, 4-6.

🪑 Major National or International Appointments

Swaminathan J Gets Two-Year Extension as RBI Deputy Governor

The Centre extended the tenure of RBI Deputy Governor Swaminathan J by two years with effect from 26 June 2026, ensuring continuity in the central bank’s regulation and supervision functions.

Pankaj Malhan Takes Charge as MD & CEO of RHI Magnesita India

Pankaj Malhan, former CEO of Electrosteel Steels with senior stints at JSW Steel and Dalmia Bharat, assumed charge as Managing Director & CEO of RHI Magnesita India with effect from 1 July 2026.

📤 Resignation or Dismissal

George Kurian Exits Union Council of Ministers

Union Minister George Kurian resigned from the Union Council of Ministers following the expiry of his Rajya Sabha term, in keeping with the constitutional requirement that a minister must be a Member of Parliament.

🔬 Major Inventions and Discoveries

Largest-Ever Gravitational Wave Catalogue Released — 390 Detections

Astronomers of the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA collaboration released the largest gravitational-wave catalogue ever, adding 161 newly analysed black-hole collisions and taking total confirmed detections to 390.

NISAR Sends First Radar Images of Earth’s Surface

The NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite transmitted its first radar images of Earth’s surface, ahead of full science operations later this year. The joint mission will map the planet’s land and ice with centimetre-level precision.

Potentially Habitable Exoplanet Found 25 Light-Years Away

Astronomers discovered a planet 25 light-years from Earth orbiting within its star’s habitable zone, where conditions could allow liquid water — a prime target in the search for life beyond the Solar System.

ISS Crew Advances Large-Scale Stem-Cell Production

Expedition 74 astronauts aboard the International Space Station are conducting the InSPA-StemCellEX-H2 investigation to demonstrate large-scale production of blood stem cells in microgravity for pharmaceutical and clinical use on Earth.

📝 Practice Questions — Current Affairs Quiz

Test your knowledge with these 5 questions in SSC/Bank PO format